Investigation of Biotransformation of 6:6 PFPiA into C6 PFPA during Anaerobic Digestion of Sludge
The biotransformation of perfluorinated phosphinic and phosphonic acids (PFPiAs & PFPAs) have been studied in animal and plant models, but not in wastewater treatment plant sludge. This is concerning since the toxicity and general research into PFPiAs and PFPAs is lacking and biosolids, a by-product of sludge treatment, is used as fertilizer for commercial crops. The purpose of this experiment is to fill in this void in research by investigating whether the microbes in sludge can bio-transform 6:6 PFPiA into C6 PFPA during a 30-day anaerobic sludge digestion. Four samples were prepared to measure the microbial, non-biological, and abiotic degradation of 6:6 PFPiA in comparison to a sterile control sample. Over the 30-day digestion period, it was found that 6:6 PFPiA levels decreased while C6 PFPA levels increased in the microbial sample. It was not determined if this degradation was caused by the cleavage of 6:6 PFPiA’s carbon-phosphorus bond.
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